Writing implement



June 28, 1960 R. J. MANsHElM WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed oct. 1?, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

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United States W.Ai.y SheafferPen Company,l Fort Madison, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Fil'ed'Ocrt.' 17, 1955,v Ser. No; 5405982 11: Claims. (Cl. 1z0-#47) This-invention relates to improved writing implements and' more particularly to an improved: fluid fillingy and feeding"V system for. fountain. pens. The conventional basicl fountain. pen comprises" a writing element or nib andallexible sac or other pneumatic reservoir disposed rearwardly thereof for storing fluid to be fed'to the. writ ing'`r nib. The reservoir is partially evacuatedrih some manner to draw writing iluid up through the wn'tingelement into the reservoir. Such constructions havel exhibited certain, characteristics` which are undesirable lbut which have, heretofore been considered necessary concomitantsof `a writing instrument capableof storingiluid; Among these detriments are the'. requirement of inserting the.. entire writing. nib into a body-of uid when lling the reservoirY and the dependence ofliluid flow upon atmospheridconditions whereby excessive discharge of writing" fluid may be experienced with changesinY temperature, altitude andthe like.

'By tliis invention a fountain pen is provided" which. may be quickly'chargediwith writing'id without.n requiring the immersion of the writing element. or grippingsection ofithe fountaiiipenin a body-of fluid'. Furthermore, fol lowingthe iillingof the reservoir, fluid ll'ow is substantial ly independent' of variations in atmospheric conditions andthe position ofthe instrument. A y

Itis yan importantobject of this` inventionltoprovidean improved fountainI pen` which.. may be. quickly .charged with id" during 'filling andY will'. provide. Ailovv to. van. associ-atedy writing.y element substantially independently. of eiternalconditions. Y '4 It` is' another object of this inventionl to provide.. an improved fountain peri having means. for quick-ly charging .a reservoir with fluid without:immersioniofithe. writiglr'riet or grippingsection-in. a bodyof uid.

It is another object of this. invention toprov-idey an improved" fountain p en having. a. quickly, chargeable reservoir functioning substantially independently, of. atmospheric Conditions and variations therein.`

Itis another. object .of'this`;invention to providean irnproved4 quickly; iillable fountain pen incorporating a cpllary'reservoir;

It" isa" still further' object of this invention, to provide anv improved fountain pen` utilizing a capillary reservoir and-'a noncapillary extensiblellingtubeassociated therewith'.

It islastillffurther object of this inventiontoprovide an improved fountain pen having a capillary reservoir and in systenr. wherelzyfv 'said' reservoir mayv be forcefully charged with; fluid by partially evacuating.- the reservoir;

It isf. a; still.. further: objectf. of.: this.-r invention to: provide an?- im'proved: fountain: penthaving common: means for extending; a. filling tube. forwardlyl of a writing element andJ forcefullycharging a capillary.y reservoir with fluid.

Another. object of: my invention'isvfto. provide an improvedfountainpen. having acapillary reservoir Wherein said' reservoir. is. automatically ventedwhen `the Ifoune tain penis conditioned for writing.v l If'i a frtler object of'tliis invention to provide an atent i1 A p 2,942,576 Patented June 28 196.0.

improved fountain: pen having.y an extensible. lillirrg and feeding tube communicating witha capillary reservoir,

saidlling tnbelhaving generally coextensivelilling.Y and feeding paths, said feeding `pathbeiug filled Withimaterial delning communicating capillary passages. l

Further and. .additionaly objects of this inventionn will become manifest from a. consideration. ofv this specifica? tion, the.-accompanying' drawings4 and. the appended claims.

In one form of. this. invention. a. fountain pen. isI pro.-

- videdha-ving a barrel anda writing elementdisposedforwardly thereof. Afreservoiris containedwithin the barre rel and' has alling and feeding tube extendingforward ly therefrom, ble between a writing position inwhich the forwarditube end is-adjacent tothe writing element'and a filling posi tion wherein the. end is disposed forwardly thereof. A common manually engageable. means is provided for actuating additional means for extending the llingitube; partially evacuating the reservoinand automatically venting the reservoir when. the. fountain penis conditioned for writing. Furthermore,v4 the iillingtubev is provided with an elongated channel of noncapillary dimensionsY to provide free fluid laccessto the reservoir, and a. substantially coextensive. channel containing material subdividing such channel into aplurality of communicating pas= sages, said latter. channel. being in communication with thewriting element. The pneumaticlling means. of-.the instant invention. is similar in certain structural.- and op.- erational respects to that disclosed in Martin` PatentNo 2,769,427. y n

For a more. complete. understanding of thisinvention reference will now be made to the accompanying. draw ings, wherein: Y

Figure l is alongitudin'alg s ectionalzview'of. the forward portion offa writing. instrument. incorporatinglrth'e features of thisfinventiong. Y Y

Fig'. la is a longitudinal. sectional view of the: rearward portion ofthe embodiment partiallyillustrated in Fig. 1';.andv

Fig. 2 is. a. transversesectional-view ofthe. embodi= ment illustrated in Figs. l. andflmtaken onvthe-.lineL-Q of Fig. 1a.

Referring novi/to the: drawings.A and more particular ly to Figs. 1. and la,.a fountain. pen 10. is illustrated' com-1 prising. generally a barrel 12,1a1writingelement 14: diseV posed forwardly thereof, and, a capv i6 coven'ngj said writing.elemennwhenthefountan: penis not inuse.. -A system.. ofv fillingT a reservoirand .feeding fluid: therefrom to the writing element 14 isprovided and generally'comprises a `reservoir 18?. disposed within the barrely 12frear-l Wardly ofthe writing element,.afilling tube 20 extending forwardly from the reservoir. and havingf an.. open. forward end normally adjacent to the writing` element,.and a' plunger 22`reciprocable-within the. barrel 12`for creatingl a partial vacuum'. within the barrel. to collapse the reservoir and cause writing'v uid to rise rearwardly through the-'filling tube 20 i'nto thev` reservoirk 18;

The reservoir comprises' aflexible sac` 24v contained within a supportingsheatlilo whichvis securedfin afore Ward bushing 28 and l is threaded along'V a'- sut'xstantialfpor tion of its length... e'Xible-material 30 iscontained within the eXible--saczZ'llf and-.isiaameanswhich defines' a plurality of. communicating capillarypassages,l spaces or interstices: Thematerial.3.0-may be.selected:.from

a groupincluding varousfcomminuted andflocculaterdly closed'by a valve plug 32. vThe plugZiis urged Vinto seal? ing engagement with the leiiible sac 34 by the coil spring the. reservoir and tube being axially shiftaf Y 36. 'However, the plunger 22 threadedly engages the sheath 26 whereby an end cap 38 which is supported on the end of plunger 22 by a machine screw 40 is drawn into abutting and conforming relationship with the otherwise open end of the barrel 1'2. End cap 38provides a manually operable means for controlling additional means, to be described, for extending a filling tube partially evacuating the reservoir 18 and automatically venting the reservoir. When in this position the head of screw 40 engages plug 32 urging it inwardly against the, force of spring 36, thus venting the reservoir 18 to the internal cavity of the barrel 12. This internal cavity is, in turn, vented to the atmosphere through a longitudinal recess 42 formed in the plunger 26, an annular recess 44 between thebarrel 12 and end cap 38, and a venting aperture 46 formed in Ithe barrel 12. Thus, when charged with writing duid, the reservoir is not subject to inadvertent discharge as a result of changes in atmospheric conditions as the pressure is, at all times, equalized.

The filling tube 20, extending forwardly from the reservoir 18 through a central aperture in the bushing 2S, has a generally circular cross section subdivided into two independent channels by a divider 47. One of the channels defined thereby is filled with a material 49 which provides a plurality of communicating passages between the open end of the tube 20 and the reservoir. The material 49 may be the same as the material 30 contained within the reservoir or may be any material selected from the group described above provided only that the capillary forces are such that writing fluid is drawn forwardly through the filling tube from the reservoir to a point adjacent the writing element 14. A transverse capillary slit 48 is provided in the tube and is in communication with a corresponding capillary slit 59 formed in a feed bar 52. Feed bar 52 comprises means forjdefining a capillary passageway between the filling tube 20 and writing element 14.

The feed bar 52 is mounted in a supporting collar 54 and is surrounded by'the writing element 14 which threadedly engages the supporting collar 54. The collar 54 is, in turn, threaded into a gripping section 55 which threadedly engages the forward end of barrel 12, The writing element 14 is provided with a conventional pierce 58 and slit 60 which carry iiuid from the feed'bai- 52 to the writing point 62. Thus fiuid communication is provided during writing from the capillary passages of the reservoir through the filling tube and feed bar to the writing point. The noncapillary channel defined by the divider 47 is utilized primarily in filling the reservoir 18 with uid. The provision of a noncapillary channel greatly facilitates and accelerates filling of the reservoir, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Following a filling operation the noncapillary channel will remain charged with fiuid and to prevent any danger of this fluid being discharged inadvertently, a small area of the feed bar 52 is provided with comb cuts 64 which are of capillary dimensions and will retain excess fluid.

The reservoir 18 and filling tube 20 are reciprocable as a unit between the writing position herein illustrated and a forward filling position in which the forward open end of the filling tube 20 is disposed substantially beyond the writing point 62. Reciprocation of the reservoir and filling tube is accomplished by rotation of the end cap 38 and the plunger 22 carried therewith. Splines 66 are provided in the inner wall of the gripping section 56 and are engaged by correspondingly formed portions of the bushing 28 and sheath 26 whereby the reservoir and filling tube are axially reciprocable while being restrained against rotation. Therefore, rotation of the plunger 22 which is in threaded engagement with the sheath 26 causes axial motionof the reservoir and filling tube. The reservoir andfilling tube'arue urged to a forward position by the fiat helical spring 68 which is normally under compression betweena shoulder (not shown).f0rmed in 4 barrel 12 and a collar 72 which abuts against a deformed portion of the sheath 26.

Upon full extension of the reservoir and filling tubeV the plunger 22 may be disengaged from the sheath 26 by a slight further rotation of the manually operable end cap 38. Thereafter the plunger 22 may be reciprocated within the barrel 12 independently of the reservoir and filling tube to cooperate as means for partially collapsing reservoir 18. A sealing ring 74 is disposed in a recess formed in the barrel 12 and engages the outer wall of the plunger 22 to define a sealed enclosure within the barrel and plunger. Therefore, upon moving the plunger inwardly into the barrel, the barrel and plunger form compressive means whereby the air within the barrel is partially compressed to collapse the flexible sac 24. The sac 24 is sealed by the extended plug 32 so that the compressed air within the barrel chamber cannot pass therethrough into the sac, filling tube, and consequently to the atmosphere. The sheath 26 surrounding flexible reservoir 24 has a plurality of apertures 27 for communication between the cavity defined by plunger 22 and the fiexible sac 24. Upon complete retraction of the plunger 22 into the barrel 12 the longitudinal recess 42 defines means which by-passes the sealing ring 74, permitting air to escape therebcyond and thus by relieving the compressive force, permitting the fiexible sac to extend to its normal position, consequently drawing liuid through the filling tube 20 into the reservoir 424. This operation may be repeated several times whereby the force filling means described above will quickly and completely charge the reservoir with uid. When the reservoir is completely charged the end cap 3,8is

rotated in such a manner that the plunger 22 engages the correspondingly threaded portion of sheath 26 retracting the reservoir and tube into the barrel 12 against the force of spring 68. The retraction of the reservoir causes the plug 32 to engage the head of screw 40, thus opening the valve at the rearward end of the reservoir and venting the reservoir to the atmosphere. The shaped end of sheath 26 and plug 32 thus comprise means defining a vent opening. As a capillary reservoir is not dependent upon air pressure either for retaining fluid therein or for feeding fluid to the writing point, it is desirable to relieve any possible pressure therein so that thc fountain pen will not inadvertently discharge fluid under conditions of varying temperature or atmospheric pressure. A exible seal 90 is provided in the gripping section 56 to isolate the feed bar 52 from the reservoir area therebehind. This will prevent the accumulation of Writ` ing uid in the cavity 92.

A small threaded collar 76 is disposed between the barrel 12 and gripping section 56 to receive a correspondingly threaded portion 78 of the fountain pen e'apl 16.

The threaded portion 78 forms a part of anb internal metal shield 80 which encloses the writing element'nnd is contained within the cap housing 82 conventionally formed of a plastic material. The shield 80 and cap housing 82 are secured together by band 83. A Vpocket clip 84 is secured in the cover 16 in any conventional manner. In this particular embodiment the pocket clip has a loop 86 which extends through arectangular aperture in the housing 82 to receive a U-shaped spring whereby the clip is resiliently maintained against the housing.

While one particular embodiment of this invention has been described herein in detail it will be clear that one skilled in the art may apply the teaching of this 'invention to many embodiments; for example, various 'fiexible sacs and capillary materials may be employed'with the valve technique for automatic ,venting when the fountain pen is conditioned for writing. Furthermre, the^use 'of a single straight substantially rigid lling tube. delining a filling path of noncapillary dimensions'and' an adjacent feeding channel containing materiabdenin'g" 'a capillary' path may be utilized with many pen structures and. various reservoirs.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing:V will so fully explain the character of my inventiony that; others' may, by applying current knowledge, readilyiadaptthe.y same forguse, under'varying conditions of service, whilerretaiiring certain features which may properly be said to: constitute the essential items of novelty involved, .iwhichitems are intended to be defined; and secured toz'me` by the following claims;

I claim;

1T. A fountainpen comprising a barrel; a'writingelement disposed forwardly of said barrel;A a sealed flexible reservoir within lsaid barrel; flexible material substantially'flling said reservoir and defining a1 plurality'of communicating passages ofy capillaryv dimensions; a sub.- stantially` straight open-endedy tube extending forwardly from said reservoir and in fluid communication' therewith; means deningfcapillary passageways extending forwardly; froml said reservoir andr connecting said reservoir and saidlwriting element; and meansfor forcefully filling said passagesVA comprising plunger means cooperating'with said barrelto define aisealed. chamber and axially movable in said'barrelbetween an extended anda retracted` position, means providing a sealfbetween said barrel a-nd said plungermeans,. a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning saidiseal and'venting said barrel when said plunger means'is in the retracted position, and normally closed valvemeansactuatedrby said plunger means for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is inthe retracted position.

'2. A fountain penl comprisinga barrel; a-writing element disposed-forwardly ofsaid barrel; a' sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; flexible material substan: tially filling said" reservoir and" defining a pluralityr of communicating passagesu of capillary dimensions; means defining a substantially straightV capillary pathextending forwardly from saidreservoir; means defining a transverse capillarypassageway-connecting'said path and said writing element; al substantiallystraight open-ended noncapillary filling tube extendingwforwardly from said reservoir; and means for forcefully filling said passages comprising` plunger means cooperatingwithlsaid barrel to define a sealed' chamber and-axially movable in said bar relbetween an extended andv a-retractedfpositiommeans providing a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means actuated by said plunger means for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel; a writing element disposed forwardly of said barrel; a sealed fiexible reservoir within said barrel; fiexible material substantially filling said reservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary dimensions; means defining a substantially straight capillary path extending forwardly from said reservoir; means defining a transverse capillary passageway connecting said path and said writing element; a substantially straight open-ended noncapillary filling tube extending forwardly from said reservoir, said capillary path and said filling tube being formed -into an integral unit; and means for forcefully filling said passages comprising plunger means cooperating with said barrel to define a sealed chamber and axially movable in said barrel between an extended and a retracted position, means providing a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means actuated by said plunger for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position.

4.v A. fountain pen comprising a barrel; a writing,r eletment disposed forwardly offsaid barrel; a sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; flexible material substantially filling said reservoir and defining a pluralityoffcommunicating passages of capillary dimensions; meansfdezfining a substantially straight capillary path extending forwardly from said reservoir; means defining a transverse capillaryy passageway connecting said path and saidfwriting element; a substantially straight open-ended non'- capillary filling tube extending `forwardly/,from saidres'- ervoir, said capillary path and said fillingA tube being formed Iinto an integral unit, said unit beingmountedfor longitudinal movement between a retracted writingiposition and an extended iiuid filling position; and meansv for forcefully filling said passages comprising` plunger means cooperating with said barrel to define a sealed chamber and axiallymovable in said barrel between an extended and a retracted position, means providing a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel' when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means actuated by movement of said plunger for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position.

5. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a writing element disposed forwardly of said barrel, a flexible 'reservoir within said barrel, flexible material completely 'filling at least the major forward portion of said reservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary dimensions, a substantially straight rigid filling and feeding tube extending forwardly from said reservoir and definingla noncapillary path therethrough, means for reciprocating said. tube bet-Ween an extended'filling` position and a retracted feeding position, materialk eye tending substantially'the length of said tube and filling a portion of the cross sectionv thereof, said material defining a capillary path between said reservoir and the'for'- ward. end of said fillingtube, means defining a transverse capillary-path between the forward end ofsaid filling tube and said writing element, andmeans for partiallycol-` lapsing said reservoir.

6. A fountain pen comprising abarrel; a writing elernent disposed forwardly of said barrel; a sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; fiexible materialcompletely filling atleast the major forward portion of said reservoir and defining a plurality of `communicating passages of capillary dimensions; a substantially straight rigid filling and feeding tube extending forwardly from said reservoir; means for reciprocating said tube between an extended filling position and a retracted feeding position, said means comprising means restraining said tube against rotation, means resiliently urging said tube to the extended position, a rotatable plunger cooperating with said barrel to define a sealed chamber, and threaded means connecting said tube and said plunger; material extending substantially the length of said tube and filling a portion of the cross section thereof, said material defining a capillary path between said reservoir and said writing element; means providing a seal between said plunger and said barrel, said plunger being reoiprocable in said barrel; a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel when said plunger is in the retracted position; and normally closed valve means venting said reservoir when said plunger is in the retracted position.

7. in a fountain pen, a barrel; a writing element disposed at the forward end of said barrel; a fiexible reservoir within said barrel; fiexible material completely filling at least the major forward portion of said reservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary'dimensions therein; said plurality lof capillary passages being in fiuid communication with said writing element; compressive means comprising a telescoping cylinder mounted in said barrel for partially collapsing said fiexible reservoir and said material, and vent v forcefully'iilling said passages comprising compressive means for partially collapsing said flexible reservoir and said material, means in said barrel to relieve said compressive means to permit said flexible reservoir to expand and draw iiuid therein, vent means actuatable between an open and a closed condition in said iiexible reservoir, and common operating means for said compressive means, said relief means and said vent means whereby said capillary passages are vented when said compressive means has been relieved.

9. A fountain pen comprising a barrel; a writing element disposed forwardly of said barrel; a sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; flexible material completely filling at least the major forward portion of said resservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary dimensions, said passages being in communication with said writing element; and means mounted in said barrel for forcefully filling said passages comprising plunger means cooperating with sm'd barrel to define a sealed chamber and axially movable in said barrel between an extended and a retracted position, a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means operable by said plunger means for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position. e 10. A fountain pen comprising a barrel; a writing element disposed forwardly of said barrel; a sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; flexible material completely lling at least the major forward portion of said reservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary dimensions; means defining capillary passages extending forwardly from said reservoir and in fluid communication with said writing element, and

means in said barrel for forcefully filling said passages comprising plunger means cooperating with said barrel to define a sealed chamber and axially movable in said barrel between an extended and a retracted position, means providing a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means actuated by said plunger means for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position.

l1. A fountain pen comprising a barrel; a writing element disposed forwardly of said barrel; a sealed flexible reservoir within said barrel; flexible material completely filling at least the major forward portion of said reservoir and defining a plurality of communicating passages of capillary dimensions; means defining a substantially straight capillary path extending forwardly lfrom said reservoir; means defining transverse capillary passageways connecting said path and said writing element; and means for forcefully filling said passages comprising plunger means cooperating with said barrel to define a sealed chamber and axially movable in said barrel between an extended and a retracted position, means providing a seal between said barrel and said plunger means, a portion of said plunger defining a recess spanning said seal and venting said barrel when said plunger means is in the retracted position, and normally closed valve means actuated by said plunger means for venting said reservoir when said plunger means is in the retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,683 Segre July 7, 1953 2,610,612 Martin Sept. 16, 1952 2,640,216 Gottlieb June 2, 1953 2,642,043 Miessner June 16, 1953 2,769,427 Martin Nov. 6, 1956 2,811,947 Rigondaud Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,631 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1908 822,691 France Sept. 27, 1937 133,105 Sweden Sept. 25, 1951 

